Bluegrass Speedway

2221 New Haven Road

Bardstown, Kentucky  40004

2008 Media Release #69 (For Immediate Distribution:  November 9, 2008)

Wheatley, Cecil, Neat, and Settles Honored as 2008 Bluegrass Speedway Track Champions

Bardstown, KY-November 9, 2008- Bluegrass Speedway track promoters David and Anita, along with other track officials, honored the best of the best of “Saturday Night Showtime” for the 2008 racing season on Saturday evening at the 2008 Championship Awards Banquet, which took place at Samuels Hall at the Nelson County Fairgrounds, located next door to Bluegrass Speedway.

Jason Wheatley of Loretto, KY was celebrated as the 2008 Kentucky Cooperage Open Wheel Modified track champion and 2008 Bluegrass Speedway Overall Track Champion, as the second generation racer scored the most track points for the second consecutive season in garnering his second straight track title at the ½ mile Nelson County clay oval.  Wheatley took the checkered flag first in five feature events during the season, including his first-ever Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series win with the July 26 Bluegrass Rumble victory.  Wheatley’s winning machine in 2008 was a Jason Hughes Racing Chassis, powered by a Mullins by Wheatley Race Engine and is owned by Kaylee and Tommy Wheatley.  Wheatley’s sponsors for the 2008 season included B&W Metals, Rosewood Bar and Grill, Gootee and Mattingly Heat and Air, Central Kentucky Plumbing and Electrical Supply, Cozy Corner, VFM Manufacturing, Wheatley Tile Flooring, Wheatley Seamless Gutters, Wheatley Auto Sales, Brady Excavating, Springfield Auto and Farm Supply, St. Joe Garage, Top Notch Landscaping, Nukem Graphics, Integra Shocks and Springs, Simpson Race Products, and Wayne Bowen Racing Supply.  Former two-time track champion Benji Lee of Raywick, KY would finish in the runner-up position in the final points tally, while former four-time track champion Josh Lucas of Bardstown, KY would claim third in track points.  Jeff Stith of Louisville, KY would finish in the fourth position, with Dion Benningfield of Lebanon, KY would complete the top five in final Kentucky Cooperage Modified track points.  The remainder of the top ten in 2008 Kentucky Cooperage Modified track points would be Randy Turpin of Lebanon, KY, Johnny Lee of Raywick, KY, Timmy Glazer of Bardstown, KY, former two-time track champion Joe Mattingly of New Hope, KY, and J.T. Ayers of New Haven, KY.  Glazer would also garner the honor of 2008 First South Credit Kentucky Cooperage Modified Rookie of the Year.  Jason Hughes Racing Chassis and Bandit Race Cars tied for the most chassis victories with 5 wins each, while Dale Meers Race Engines would score the most wins for engine builders with 6 wins.

Roger Cecil of Bardstown, KY was honored as the 2008 WBRT 1320-AM Sportsman track champion.  This track title is the first for Cecil in the long career of this accomplished racer.  Cecil was victorious in six WBRT 1320-AM Sportsman feature victories, including the Shorty Gardner Memorial event.  Cecil’s winning mount is a Chevy Monte Carlo owned by the driver and carried sponsorship in 2008 from 44 Auto Mart, Cecil Trucking, RER Concrete Construction, El Jimador Mexican Restaurant, M&M Get-N-Go, First Financial Credit, and Teamsters 89.  Former Street Stock track champion Avral Thompson of Loretto, KY was the Sportsman track championship runner-up, with Rob Jones of Bardstown, KY taking third place honors in the final track points.  The remainder of the top five in WBRT 1320-AM Sportsman final track points Pat Hagan of New Haven, KY and Elton Martin of Hodgenville, KY.  Completing the top ten in final 2008 WBRT 1320-AM Sportsman track points were Lois Campbell of Campbellsville, KY, Sam Huffer of Elizabethtown, KY, Paul Lewis, Jr. of Bloomfield, KY, Nathan Wells of Magnolia, KY, and Grady Moore, Jr. of Lawrenceburg, KY.

Dustin Neat of Dunnville, KY was celebrated as the 44 Auto Mart Super Late Model track champon for the second consecutive season, with a 2008 track title now to go along with his 2007 winning effort.  Neat would grab four 44 Auto Mart Super Late Model feature victories over the course of the 2008 season, including the Jerry Rucker Memorial event win.  Neat’s winning efforts came aboard C.J. Rayburn and MasterSbilt Race Cars, with power coming from Estes Race Engines.  Sponsorship for Neat’s machine in 2008 came from Neat’s Service Center, NWN Distributing, Kentucky Proud, Begley Properties, Tarter Gate Company, Barnett Construction, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, and SHY Racing Suspensions.  Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, KY finished second in the final 44 Auto Mart Super Late Model driver points, with Bryant Woodcock of Glasgow, KY tallying a third place points finish.  Former 2000 track champion Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY claimed the fourth position, while 2006 track champion Jason Keltner of Campbellsville, KY completed the top five.  The remainder of the top ten in final 44 Auto Mart Super Late Model track points were Aaron Hatton of Mount Sterling, KY, former track champion Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN, former two-time track champion Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY and Lee Devasier of Crestwood, KY.  Kevin Colston of Frankfort, KY was honored as the First South Credit Norman Copley 44 Auto Mart Super Late Model Rookie of the Year.  C.J. Rayburn Race Cars had the most chassis victories with 7, while Estes Race Engines won the most feature events with 8 wins.

Robbie Settles of Bardstown, KY was honored as the 2008 Bluegrass Speedway Street Stock track champion.  The track title was the first in the career for this driver, who will move up to the Sportsman division beginning with the 2009 season.  The winner’s unit is a Chevy Impala and is owned by Bobby and Pauline Settles.  The 2008 Street Stock track champion received sponsorship from Vinyl World, First South Credit, T-Mobile, Ice’s Produce, Kenny’s Cleaners, Toddy Liquors, Wooden Duck Entertainment, Langford’s Auto Repair, Priority Mortgage, and The Shirt Shop.  Upton, KY native Jason Priddy would finish second in final Street Stock track points, while former track champion Willie Edelen of Bardstown, KY finished in the third position.  The final two positions in the top five would go to Terry Greenwell of Bardstown, KY and Brad Leake of Bardstown, KY.  Joe David Humphrey of Loretto, KY, Joe Walker of Bardstown, KY, Jason Bartley of Bardstown, KY, Shane Lafollette of Hodgenville, KY, and Johnny Cecil of Balltown, KY would complete the top ten in final Street Stock track points.

Bluegrass Speedway was an associate with the Contingency Connection awards program for 2008 and several drivers earned post-season Contingency Connection awards.  Richmond Gear Weekend Warrior awards went to Joe David Humphrey, Rob Jones, Elton Martin, Avral Thompson, Randy Turpin, and Johnny Wheeler.  The PX3 Lubricants All Star winner was Bryant Woodcock, while Jason Priddy was the PerformaceParts.com Performance Club winner.  Johnny Wheeler was voted the JE Pistons Sportsman of the Year by his fellow competitors, with Roger Cecil winning the Hedman Hedders/Trans-Dapt Champions Bonus.  The Professional Products Bonus sponsorship package went to Jason Wheatley. 

Bluegrass Speedway co-promoter David Ferrell concluded the evening by addressing those in attendance and spoke of the new red clay racing surface and that racing action would begin for 2009 in mid-April.  Mr. Ferrell also thanked his track staff, his wife, and thanked the racers for their support during the 2008 racing season and looked forward to 2009.

Bluegrass Speedway in located at 2221 New Haven Road, just outside of historic Bardstown, KY.  David and Anita Ferrell are the track promoters and present dirt track sports entertainment on Saturday evenings from mid-April through September.  For more information about Bluegrass Speedway, visit the track’s online webpage at www.bluegrass-speedway.com.